ROSS COUNTY have hit the ground running in the SPL but manager Derek Adams swears his Staggies are still a First Division side.

The Dingwall outfit have launched their first top-flight campaign with creditable goalless draws against Motherwell and Aberdeen.

They have not looked out of place against two of the fancied sides in the division but today they face an even stiffer test against champions Celtic at Victoria Park.

The Highlanders have adapted quickly to life in the top tier but it will be some time before Adams starts to think of his team as an SPL club.

It won’t happen today, especially given the massive gulf in finances between the Parkhead club and County. The combined wages of Adams’ squad would get you about half of Scott Brown’s pay packet but the Staggies won’t let financial disparity dampen their hopes of an upset.

After all, this is the club that created one of the shocks of all time when they dumped the Hoops 2-0 in the incredible Scottish Cup semi-final of 2010.

Adams said: “It is a different situation from the cup semi because we are in the same league now. But to all intents and purposes we are still a First Division side playing in the SPL.

“We are newcomers and know that. Until we get enough games under our belt or even a couple of seasons I still see us as a First Division club.

“It is great we have won the championship and got to this level but it takes a long time to stabilise.”

The cup stunner of two years ago has ensured Celtic will not underestimate County, that’s for sure. The defeat almost killed off Neil Lennon’s managerial career before it had properly got started.

Lennon and Celtic recovered and gained some revenge with their 2-0 Scottish Cup win at Dingwall last year.

Adams believes they have improved since then and are an entirely different proposition from the side they faced at Hampden.

The clubs might operate in different financial circles but there are a lot of similarities between the two bosses.

They are two of the brightest managerial prospects in the game and fiercely motivated to succeed, which has sometimes led to both spending more than their fair share of time in the stands.

There is a mutual respect and Adams said: “Neil won’t take us lightly – he didn’t the last time and they won quite comfortably in my eyes.

“They have come a long way. On that day we were the better side and we took our opportunities.

“It was a difficult time for him but he has been able to strengthen his team over the years.

“It has not been easy as a young manager in charge of a club such as Celtic and he has dealt with it well.”

Adams knows enough about Celtic that he did not feel the need to watch last week’s friendly against Real Madrid.

While the Hoops did a lot of the chasing in Philadelphia, the roles could be reversed in the Highlands this afternoon.

But a trip north is the last thing Lennon would have wanted ahead of their Champions League play-off against Helsingborgs in midweek.

Adams said: “No, I didn’t watch them against Real Madrid. I don’t think it will be to similar a game against ourselves and it was a bit of an exhibition match.

“They will be concerned with a few injuries but the travelling thing is just an excuse.

“I don’t think it will be an issue for Celtic, I am sure they will be ready for the game.

“We do it every fortnight and unlike Celtic we get the bus down on the morning of the match.

“We don’t give the players that excuse before the game.

“It can be a cover for some teams although maybe not so much for Celtic because they have been travelling all over the world.

“It can be difficult but I am sure they will have enjoyed going to America and I am sure they will enjoy coming here.”

Celtic have indeed been all over the world but Ross County have come a long way.

They welcome Celtic aiming to protect the longest unbeaten run in the country having gone a full year and 36 league games without defeat.

It is an astonishing record and no one at Victoria Park will let it go without a fight.

Adams said: “Undoubtedly it’s a fantastic achievement and we really want to keep it going.

“To go a year unbeaten is something special but there is no doubt Celtic will be the toughest test we have faced on this run.”

County midfielder Paul Lawson is set to miss out against his former club with a hamstring strain but Stuart Kettlewell returns from suspension.